New Efforts to Tackle Homelessness – The Homeless Reduction Bill

The Government has recently confirmed that Councils are to receive a further £48 million funding to help them deliver new and expanded services to prevent
and reduce homelessness.

For quite some time the demand for affordable housing has overtaken supply; with rents now exceeding incomes and the list to apply for affordable housing
getting bigger.

As a result one of the major housing crisis’ being faced nationally is homelessness. Under current rulings, homeless people are not seen to be priority;
with many not being able to get help from relevant authorities when they approach them for help.

Separated into various measures,
local authorities are obliged to help all people who qualify for 56 days before they are threatened with homelessness. This help will be available regardless of
whether they are single or a family; and those who are already homeless will get support for another 56 days to help them secure somewhere to stay.

This will mean that councils will look to prevent and reduce the pressure of homelessness regardless of priority need, lengthen the time that households
are considered to be at risk of being homeless; and to house those at risk in emergency accommodation.

The sentiment from St Mungo’s, the author of CHAIN, is that the improvement of the law as it stands
is a meaningful opportunity which would prevent and tackle homelessness in England more effectively; this during a time when rough sleeping continues
to rise.

Saving government money in the long-term

Crisis, a homeless charity is another organisation that backs the bill.

The sentiment from Crisis is that the bill will save money for both local and national government in the longer term; and it would be doing this by
helping to prevent homelessness earlier and minimise the money spent on
temporary accommodation and support.

Increased cost to councils

The greatest cost incurred to councils is projected to be from the increase in need for private rented temporary accommodation, as well as possible
increase in staffing numbers needed to achieve the new duties.

As an example, Lewisham Council had stated an extra £2.3 million a year would possibly be needed; and so in response
to this the Government have set aside the £48 million funding for council’s to help them provide new and expanded services.